SOMEBODY'S STOLEN ALL THAT WE TREASURE

SETTING up home for a new life in Hurst was supposed to be a happy time for the O'Brien family.

But their lives were turned upside down when their removals van was stolen, along with £100,000 worth of goods including heirlooms and baby photos.

Mother-of-two Pauline O'Brien, 41, said the family went through a "roll of emotions" after removals firm Bishop's Move told them the lorry had been stolen from the company's warehouse in Wokingham.

Thousands of items were in the van including baby photos of the couple's children, Jessica, seven, and Henry, five.

Also among the precious load was Wedgwood china, a crystal chandelier and an expensive antique French oak table and chairs.

"It's been a complete nightmare. I feel quite empty," said Mrs O'Brien, a secretary for a Wokingham electrical company.

"Last week I just kept crying and it broke my heart to tell the children. They were so upset. My daughter went into shock and hid. I'm angry that someone can do this. It's not right people can destroy people's lives like this."

The O'Briens loaded up 80 per cent of their stuff into five containers on Monday, July 19. Mrs O'Brien and her husband Liam, a 41-year-old Oracle worker, were moving from the village of Shurlock Row to a rented property in Nelson's Lane, Hurst, for three months before finding somewhere more permanent to live and wanted to store most of their belongings while they were there.

The full lorry was taken to the firm's warehouse in Oaklands Park, Fishponds Road, where it is believed it was stolen at around 4.30am on Wednesday, July 21.

Mrs O'Brien said she would be "over the moon" to get even the smallest items back. We've lost just about all of our possessions - all we've brought to the new house is three beds, a sofa and a couple of televisions. The rest has gone," she said.

"We wanted to build time capsules for the children but the thieves have taken things from the days the children were born such as their hospital tags, their first shoes, things you cannot replace.

"They've taken things that are worthless and mean nothing to anybody but us and they are the most precious. I'd ask these people to just dump these items where they can be found, like all the children's drawings and holiday videos when they were babies."

But she added: "I think I did smile a couple of days ago, Sunday evening I think, because it was like we were just starting over and building our first house.

"Worse things can happen in life and it could have been a burglary where we were attacked but we're still healthy and happy and here."

Mrs O'Brien said Bishop's Move had said it would cover the loss and was doing all it could to find their belongings.

A Bishop's Move spokeswoman said: "The vehicle was locked and parked in a secure area behind gates and thieves broke in, clearly a professional criminal gang.

"Insurance loss adjusters have been in touch with the couple and a claim is being processed with the utmost urgency. We have been here for 18 years and never experienced an incident like this at the Wokingham branch."

Thames Valley Police want to hear from anyone with information. They have had up to 40 calls from people across the country reporting sightings of a Bishop's Move van, but none of these vans was the right one.

The bright yellow, L-reg, Mercedes lorry is the only one in the fleet with ‘Newbury' and the telephone number (01635) 521531 written on it.